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Knowing his
learning style
Most educators know about learning
styles. But how many of them truly incorporate them into all their
lessons? And even more important, how many help students find out
their own personal learning style so that they can not only achieve
but thrive?
I had learned about learning styles
many years ago on a professional development day. But one day’s
training was not really enough to turn my rather mundane math text
into something that would excite students to learn. My gut
instincts helped me find ways to keep students interested and
looking back now, I can see that I was on the right track. But I
didn’t do it consciously or often enough.
One of the early lessons in this
course is to help students find their best learning style. I had no
idea when I first did this activity with a class that it would have
the impact it did. Many students were suddenly clear about why they
had difficulties in school, particularly the hands on learners.
They were amazed and excited when they knew what their primary
style was because they
could use that knowledge to create strategies to learn both in and
out of school.
David was another student who always
claimed to be in trouble in school.
 I was surprised because he was
very pleasant in class and always participated in the lesson at
hand. One day he came in and proclaimed to everyone that he had
found a way to stay out of trouble in his other classes. You see
David was a hands on learner and would often fidget his way into
trouble. He couldn’t sit still in class and often asked for a pass
to the bathroom to take care of that urge to move around. Soon he
was wandering the halls.
When he learned that he was
primarily someone who learned by moving, he created a strategy for
himself. He often wore the hooded sweatshirts with the center
pocket. In those pockets, he placed the control panel from a broken
game boy system. While in class, if he felt the need to fidget or
move around, he just played with the game boy and he was able to
focus on the lesson at hand. Finding out about his learning styles
not only changed his life but the lives of the other students with
whom he shared his discovery.
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